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Message: <br /><br /> If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view this article online at: http://www.jweekly.com/18281/full/18281/s-f-mural-by-emigre-teens-melds-u-s-russian-images/ <br /><br /> <b>S.F. mural by emigre teens melds U.S., Russian images</b> <br /> Friday, August 16, 2002 | by <p>STEVEN NEWMANBulletin Intern </p> <br /><br /><p>"It represents that even though we may be here in San Francisco or in Russia there is always a piece of either that we carry with us wherever we are," said Irene Kurtsevya, who helped create the artwork.<br /><br /> In the midst of the Jewish Family and Children's Services' unassuming office on Scott Street in San Francisco, this 100-square-foot mural stands as a symbolic portrait of the Jewish artists who created it.<br /><br /> It is the work of six Russian-American teenage girls, all of whom participate in the JFCS's youth-emigre program, Club NooN.<br /><br /> The subject of the mural is a collaborative effort based on the central theme: "Who We Are." But the design is even more of a group effort. "We all drew our impressions and then came together and created the final," says Marina Sirota, who has lived in the United States for five years.<br /><br /> The mural fills an otherwise nondescript office with bright hues. And its imagery is strikingly beautiful—an eagle spreads its wings over a sea separating images of Russian folklore, architecture and symbolism on the left, and on the right are images of Americana and San Francisco.<br /><br /> Since the artists share such similar backgrounds, the girls all came up with similar themes. All come from the former Soviet Union, are Jewish and are now living in San Francisco.<br /><br /> One of the most poignant symbols is a scroll that floats between the two countries, and in English, Russian and Hebrew, repeats "Who We Are."<br /><br /> Despite their similar life experiences, Nastya Plekach, Irina Nenova, Svetlana Altshuler, Inna Shapiro, Sirota and Kurtsevya vary in age and have varying degrees of artistic experience.<br /><br /> The girls were optimistic that the mural would turn out well, but acknowledged that there would be challenges—the biggest being their elaborate signature. "We are going to put our faces into the mural for that."<br /><br /> They placed their likenesses onto the famous faces of Mt. Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty, without a hitch.<br /><br /> The girls glance skittishly at each other to answer questions. It is only once they begin to work on the mural that the conversation becomes casual and takes on the air of a boisterous, everyday conversation among high school students.<br /><br /> In Russian, they discuss their progress and problems they are having, such as finding the purple paint needed for the sunset.<br /><br /> "We tried everything and we always end up with this grayish purple that looks good here," Kurtsevya says, pointing to a makeshift palate dabbed with a light lavender paint. "But on the wall it looks like gray."<br /><br /> The mural concept was developed by Slava Basovitch, an adviser for Club NooN, and Lauren Pearl, the emigre youth development program coordinator. The two were inspired by other murals in San Francisco, especially those in the Mission District.<br /><br /> The idea itself was spurred by the challenges of a new space. "We moved into this office a year ago, and it's definitely an office space," said Basovitch. "We've got bean-bag chairs and all sorts of cool stuff, but it just wasn't home.<br /><br /> "We had about 100 square feet of empty wall, and it was painted this purple that no one liked. We thought about posters, but the kids wanted something to make it feel like their space."<br /><br /> The girls consulted and worked with Precita Eyes, one of San Francisco's most prominent mural organizations, to learn techniques for creating the mural.<br /><br /> The painting has transformed the office space into a welcoming hangout for the program, and will stand as a testament to those who created it.<br /><br /> "If we ever move offices or they're rebuilding this one I'll disassemble the wall personally to save it," says Basovich. "I'll lay myself in front of the bulldozer.</p> <p> </p>

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